Insidious and Cunning

Cheng Shuili slowly curled her fingers, gripping the tooth tightly in her palm.

"Very well." Cheng Shuili looked up, her gaze sharp and firm. "I accept this position."

She did not offer any grandiloquent vows, but those three simple words carried the weight of a thousand mountains!

Xiong Ji had felt a bit of distance between them as a human earlier, but seeing Cheng Shuili tuck the token away, he instantly felt that this human was one of his own.

He raised his broad palm, carefully controlling his strength as he patted Cheng Shuili on the back, warmly saying: "From today on, you are the King of our bear-race."

As he spoke, he suddenly took a step forward, emerging from behind the desk. Before Cheng Shuili could react, he knelt on the ground with a heavy thud. Cheng Shuili hurriedly bent down, intending to help him up, but he had already bowed his head straight to the floor.

"Greetings, King!"

The sense of ritual regarding the "King" among the beastmen was truly strong.

Cheng Shuili felt somewhat helpless, bending down to help Xiong Ji up before finally returning to the matter at hand.

However, with her identity different from before, Cheng Shuili naturally had more to say.

Upon hearing that it cost one hundred energy stones to use it once, and that it only produced three drops—enough to dilute into three bottles of mineral water—Xiong Ji immediately frowned. Clearly, he also realized what a staggering figure this was.

"King, why don't we do this..."

Xiong Ji lowered his voice, a glimmer of shrewdness flashing in his bear eyes, which usually carried a gentle smile. It made Cheng Shuili realize that he had ascended to the throne due to his own capabilities.

"Externally, we will simply say that the medicine is extremely difficult to refine and requires rare materials, without specifying exactly how many energy stones are needed."

"As for the mouse-race, since the Rat King has spoken, it is only right and proper that they receive the first batch of medicine. But as your most loyal subject race, and the main force responsible for the compounding and distribution, it is reasonable and fair that we, the bear-race, should be ranked at the forefront."

With the bear tooth already in Cheng Shuili's hand, she naturally had no objections to this arrangement.

Xiong Ji paused deliberately, carefully observing Cheng Shuili's expression. Seeing that she did not object, he continued:

"As for the other races, they must certainly be given the medicine, but who receives it first and who receives it later—there is much room for maneuvering here. If they know that spending a few energy stones could allow their race to be cured in advance... I believe they would be very willing to offer some sincerity."

Xiong Ji's voice dropped even lower, carrying a tacit implication. "We can establish an emergency relief fund, nominally for purchasing medicinal ingredients and maintaining the hospital's operations. In reality, whoever contributes the most will have their tribesmen receive the medicine sooner."

"This will not only raise energy stones but also make those who are usually arrogant bleed a little. More importantly, we can use this to seize the initiative and make them owe you a favor!"

Cheng Shuili listened, her fingers unconsciously stroking the warm, jade-like bear tooth token.

Xiong Ji's suggestion was very realistic, even somewhat cold-blooded, but in these times of extreme resource scarcity and widespread panic, this might be the most efficient and stable method.

Using self-interest as a driver was far more rapid than empty talk of benevolence.

Moreover, judging by this method alone, this guy was truly quite insidious and cunning.

Was he like this before?

Cheng Shuili seriously recalled her first encounter with Xiong Ji and the bear-race beastmen in the hospital. She had genuinely thought these beastmen were just simple-minded bears.

However... it actually suited her temperament quite well.

She pondered for a moment, looked up at Xiong Ji, and said with clear eyes: "Very well. But two principles must be observed."

"Please instruct me, King." Xiong Ji's expression turned solemn.

"First, for critical patients, regardless of whether their race has paid the donation, they must receive basic life support. This is the bottom line. We cannot stand by and watch them die, even if it only delays the time of death."

Cheng Shuili's tone was resolute, yet her gaze toward Xiong Ji was gentle: "The reputation of the hospital and yourself must never be ruined by this matter."

Xiong Ji was stunned, then nodded solemnly: "Yes, I understand. I will arrange for personnel to prioritize identifying critical cases and use conservative therapy to stabilize the situation first. Or, once we have the medicine, prioritize those beastmen."

"Second," Cheng Shuili stood up and walked to the window, looking at the hospital corridor that remained in chaos.

"Once the news is announced, there will certainly be doubts, and it may even trigger riots. The bear-race must become the cornerstone of stable order. I want you to select the most reliable and strongest bear-race beastmen to maintain order in the hospital, ensuring that the medicine distribution process is absolutely fair—at least procedurally fair."

She turned around, her gaze sharp as she looked at Xiong Ji: "We must let them know that the rules are set by us. But once set, they will be enforced. By doing so, we will demonstrate our credibility."

A glimmer of admiration flashed in Xiong Ji's eyes.

He had proposed an expedient measure, while Cheng Shuili was paving the way for the future amidst that expediency.

This was not just about solving a problem; it was about winning hearts and establishing order.

Xiong Ji felt a long-lost passion surging in his chest. He straightened his back and replied in a deep voice: "Rest assured, King! The bear-race will never let you down!"

"Go," Cheng Shuili waved her hand. "Spread the news as quickly as possible, and then... call for a beastman from each race who has the authority to make decisions. We will go and have a proper talk with them."

Xiong Ji understood and hurried off to make arrangements.

Cheng Shuili remained alone in the large president's office. She turned her head to look at the furnishings, feeling the hard texture of the bear tooth with her fingertips, and exhaled softly.

Xiong Ji had left, but she still felt as if she were in a dream.

Supreme Monarch, Wolf King, Bear King—the titles piled upon her head were increasing, and the burden was growing heavier.

But for some reason, holding this token that symbolized responsibility and power, the firmness belonging to her within Cheng Shuili's heart became clearer and clearer.

Chaotic times require strict codes; deep-seated illness requires strong medicine.

In extraordinary times, one must perform extraordinary deeds.

She pushed open the office door. The mixture of medicinal scents and the unique body odor of beastmen rushed toward her, accompanied by the sounds of painful moans and anxious shouts amidst the noise.

Cheng Shuili glanced outside, then closed the door and sat back down in the office.

Without energy stones, everything was just empty talk.

Driven by Xiong Ji's conscious efforts, the news of the miracle medicine spread through the hospital like wildfire. In the corridors previously shrouded in despair, a certain restless hope was instantly injected.

The gazes of beastmen from all races turned toward the tightly closed door of the president's office, with whispers and arguments filling the air.

"Did you hear? The new Wolf King—no, I think she's the Bear King now? She has the medicine!"

"Is it true or false? Not a single wolf-race member is sick. Could it be because of this?"

"Isn't the Bear King Dean Xiong Ji? A human? What kind of joke are you playing?"

"Exactly! Are you not awake yet? The bear-race is not a fallen race like the wolves. Among all races, the bear-race ranks in the top five, right? How could they possibly find a human to be their King?!"

"I don't care or concern myself with who this human is, but is the miracle medicine real or fake?"

"Those cat-cubs over there said they heard Dean Xiong Ji say it himself. How could it be fake?"

"Where is the medicine? Where is the medicine? Take it out quickly!"

Anxiety and anticipation fermented in the air. Some agitated beastmen began trying to approach the office, only to be silently blocked by several unusually tall bear-race orderlies who had arrived upon hearing the news.

Although the bear-race orderlies did not utter a word, their steady, mountain-like presence and the sense of power emanating from them effectively curbed the signs of a riot.

Just then, Xiong Ji's tall figure appeared at the end of the corridor, followed by several bear-race orderlies with steady auras and sharp eyes.

He ignored the surrounding noise, walked straight to the office door, nodded at the bear-race guards, and then tapped gently on the door.

"King, the representatives from each race are mostly here. I've arranged them in the meeting room next door."

The door opened from the inside, and under the gaze of the multitude, Cheng Shuili walked out.

Seeing that it was truly a human, and that she was called "King" by Xiong Ji, the corridor erupted in an instant!

"It really is a human!"

"Dean Xiong Ji called her King?! Did I hear that right?"

"What is going on?"

Doubts and exclamations flooded in like a tide.

Cheng Shuili acted as if she heard none of it. Her gaze swept calmly across the gathered beastmen in the corridor; those eyes—filled with suspicion, anger, or anticipation—did not move her in the slightest.

"Let's go."

Her voice was not loud, yet it strangely pierced through the noise, clearly reaching the ears of every beastman who pricked up their ears.

Under the escort of Xiong Ji and the bear-race warriors, Cheng Shuili walked with steady steps through the crowd toward the meeting room next door.

Wherever she passed, the beastmen subconsciously cleared a path, various complex gazes clinging to her back as if trying to see through this audacious human.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere was even heavier.

On both sides of a long table sat seven or eight beastman representatives from different races, including a fox-race elder with disheveled fur and weary eyes, and a leopard-race leader with an arrogant expression, arms crossed...

Besides them, there were even more beastmen standing.

Tall and short, fat and thin—there were all kinds of beastmen. Cheng Shuili was seeing many of these races for the first time and couldn't help but take a few extra looks, while feeling inwardly surprised.

In such a short time, Xiong Ji had managed to notify so many races; it was truly miraculous.

While she was observing these beastmen, the beastmen were also observing this human. The gazes they projected were full of scrutiny, suspicion, and even undisguised hostility.

By comparison, they were the ones who looked like they were watching monkeys in a zoo.

"Xiong Ji, you had better explain!"

Bao Wen, the leopard-race leader, was the first to attack. He slammed the table, leaned forward, and swept his sharp gaze over Cheng Shuili before pinning it on Xiong Ji.

"You let a human stand here, and you say she is your King? Have all your bear-race brains rotted collectively? Or is this so-called miracle medicine just a scam you cooked up in collusion with the humans!"

These words were highly inflammatory and immediately drew a few nods of agreement. The hostility in the meeting room heated up instantly.

Xiong Ji frowned and was about to speak, but Cheng Shuili gently raised her hand to stop him.

Cheng Shuili stepped forward, meeting Bao Wen's oppressive gaze calmly.

"The medicine is real." Her voice was clear and steady, without a hint of wavering. "I have my reasons for standing here. It is my honor that the bear-race recognizes my status, and that is a matter between us. As for whether you believe it or not..."

She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over all the beastman representatives in the room who were holding their breath.

"...it has nothing to do with whether the miracle medicine can save your tribesmen."

Bao Wen was choked by her nonchalant yet piercing attitude, and his anger flared even higher: "Glib-tongued! Where is the evidence? Take the medicine out and let us see!"

"That's right! Empty words are proof of nothing!"

"Produce the evidence!"

Other representatives who held doubts also echoed the demand.

Cheng Shuili sneered: "The wolf-race has no infections, and the Rat King himself requested it—that is the best proof of its effectiveness."

At the mention of the Rat King, the room stirred.

The intelligence-gathering capabilities of the mouse-race and the status of the Rat King were recognized among all beastman races, which undoubtedly added weight to Cheng Shuili's words.

"Even if the medicine is real," the cat-race representative, who had been silent until now, spoke slowly in a hoarse and weary voice, "how do you intend to distribute such precious medicine? And what is the cost? Our fox-race... can no longer produce much."

The helplessness and despair in her words resonated with many representatives of smaller races.

Cheng Shuili put the small bottle away, her gaze sweeping over every representative present.

"That is precisely why I invited everyone here." She said loudly: "I will do my best to provide the medicine. But to ensure that the medicine can be manufactured continuously to save more beastmen, we need to establish an emergency relief fund."

She expressed the essence of Xiong Ji's proposal in more formal and grandiose language: "All races may donate energy stones to the fund based on their own circumstances. This fund will be used exclusively for purchasing medicinal ingredients and maintaining production."

"The amount and enthusiasm of the donations will directly affect the priority of the race in receiving the medicine. For critical patients, we will do our best to maintain their lives with existing medical means, but the distribution of the miracle medicine will follow this principle."

"You are clearly just looting a burning house!" Bao Wen roared immediately.

"Whether it is a fair trade or looting a burning house depends on how everyone views the opportunity to save the lives of their tribesmen."

Cheng Shuili looked at him without backing down. "Resources are limited, and we must establish a relatively fair distribution standard."

"Those who contribute more receive priority—that is only natural."

"Or perhaps, the leopard-race leader has a method that is fairer and can quickly raise a large amount of energy stones?"

Bao Wen was stifled by her question, his face turning livid, yet he was unable to refute it.

In the face of absolute resource scarcity, any so-called absolute fairness was just empty talk.

Just as he was racking his brains to think of a rebuttal, the elephant-race representative sitting to the side said blandly: "I can donate one thousand energy stones, but on the condition that my tribesmen are saved first."

"The fox-race can also donate one thousand energy stones."

Having said this, the fox-race elder elegantly put on her gloves, appearing to have already planned to depart.